Universities of Applied Sciences train students for specific professions and are more practice-oriented.

Reputation

Dutch higher education has a good reputation. Students who have obtained a degree from a university of applied sciences are well qualified to work within their discipline. Like most other universities of applied sciences, the HAN maintains close ties with the professional field. Its graduates are very successful in the labour market.

Bologna Treaty

With the Bologna Treaty the European Ministers of Education agreed to make study programmes in higher education more compatible. This is why all over Europe the Bachelor-Masters system has been introduced. At the HAN, students complete a Bachelor programme after four years of full-time study. Most Masters courses require one additional year.

Major-minor

Bachelor programmes consist of a major and a minor. During their major, students develop the necessary knowledge and skills for their future professions. A large part of the programme is spent analysing and solving problems in groups. It also includes a work placement of at least half a year. The minor is a one-semester course that stimulates students to deepen or broaden their knowledge.